The one and only Brian De Palma, voyeuristic connoisseur and cinematic mastermind, authority on the split-screen and di-opter shots, and self-proclaimed Hitchcock devotee and frequent referencer, also falls into the category of filmmakers who define the zoom (in my eyes, at least).

Take (again) the beginning of this scene from The Untouchables (1987). The zoom heightens the tension to an almost unbelievable/boiling point level, allowing Ness’s cocking of the shotgun up through the bottom of the frame to build off of this drama—making the surprise even sweeter. Emotional investment is key to nailing the zoom. Unprofessional shmunprofessional.